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10-08-2019, 10:03 AM
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#1
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Gone Traveling
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Ridgefield WA
Posts: 190
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Stabilizer jacks during storage
We store our travel trailer in an rv storage facility.
I've noticed moqst of the travel trailers anas well as fith wheels use the stabilizer jacks there.
Why is that?
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10-08-2019, 12:13 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,349
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Probably personal preference. Not needed if your not looking for extra work. If you have autolevel then it’s just as easy to hit autolevel once unhitched. Your choice.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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10-08-2019, 12:30 PM
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#3
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Gone Traveling
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Ridgefield WA
Posts: 190
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But the stabilizers aren't to be used for leveling.
Besides, why level it while stored?
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10-08-2019, 12:32 PM
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#4
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Personal preference too.
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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10-08-2019, 12:47 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Middleton
Posts: 255
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Maybe to defer theft? Be quicker to snatch one that have them up.
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10-08-2019, 02:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Henniker
Posts: 2,171
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One issue with stabilizers down is that if tires deflate all the weight is on the stabilizers and you could bend the frame or stabilizers. Stabilizers are only to stabilize the trailer during use. If just storing there is no point it keeping it steady since it isn’t being used. Besides, just 4 more places for critters to climb up and try to find a way in.
__________________
Rob & Amy
2019 Passport 240BH SL (for sale)
2024 Cougar 29BHL (Taking delivery 5/11/24)
2022 Ford F250 7.3L Godzilla Crew Cab FX4
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10-08-2019, 02:24 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,692
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^^^^x2 - this would be right IMO.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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10-08-2019, 05:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 503
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I can't think of any good reason to lower the stabilizers in storage. I've always wondered why people do so.
Why give rodents and pests additional access points?
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2018 Cougar 26RBS
2016 Chevrolet 3500DRW D/A
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10-08-2019, 06:09 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Commerce Twp, Mi
Posts: 1,002
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__________________
TOM
2011 Chevy Silverado
1500, HD Tow Package
2017 Keystone Hideout 177LHS Carlisle Radial HDs
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10-08-2019, 11:39 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,212
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Another vote for NOT using them while the trailer is being stored. As stated above, if a tire goes flat, you could pretty easily damage the stabilizer(s) on that side of the trailer, plus the mention of another source of possible access for unwanted visitors.
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2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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10-09-2019, 05:28 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Consider "ground moisture" and its corrosion potential for steel stabilizer jacks that are "immersed in mud" for the winter storage season. I'd suspect they will not be "pretty painted jacks" in the spring. At least around these parts, they'd rust pretty quickly.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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10-09-2019, 08:04 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,692
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrated
Another vote for NOT using them while the trailer is being stored. As stated above, if a tire goes flat, you could pretty easily damage the stabilizer(s) on that side of the trailer, plus the mention of another source of possible access for unwanted visitors.
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Just wanted to point out that the statement highlighted in red is a very real possibility. As one that has forgotten to raise his jacks before dropping the tongue on the hitch I can attest to the fact that the stabilzers (electric) are not meant to hold the weight of the trailer.....they WILL bend and look very funny, and not work, and cost a lot to fix.....
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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10-09-2019, 08:18 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,757
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I guess I'm the odd man out here. I put mine down (I added one ahead of the front axle that matched the 2 from the factory) with a piece of pressure treated 2X8 under the pads. 1.Our unit sets on blacktop with PT lumber under the contact points.
2. I don't think any "critters" would be put off going another few feet to gain entrance.
3. I'm not concerned with a flat tire. Hasn't happened to me in yet (been camping about 20 years), maybe I've been lucky.
4. The reason I put the stabilizers down is wind and ice. One year I checked on the camper after a particularly nasty Nor'Easter ice storm and the tongue had slide over about 18". Thankfully the tongue jack did not bend, most likely due to the ice. So I figure having 7 solid surfaces will get me more friction resistance than one,
This is what has worked for me and as you can see others have their own thoughts so go with what you think will work best for you.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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10-09-2019, 09:50 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
I guess I'm the odd man out here. I put mine down (I added one ahead of the front axle that matched the 2 from the factory) with a piece of pressure treated 2X8 under the pads. 1.Our unit sets on blacktop with PT lumber under the contact points.
2. I don't think any "critters" would be put off going another few feet to gain entrance.
3. I'm not concerned with a flat tire. Hasn't happened to me in yet (been camping about 20 years), maybe I've been lucky.
4. The reason I put the stabilizers down is wind and ice. One year I checked on the camper after a particularly nasty Nor'Easter ice storm and the tongue had slide over about 18". Thankfully the tongue jack did not bend, most likely due to the ice. So I figure having 7 solid surfaces will get me more friction resistance than one,
This is what has worked for me and as you can see others have their own thoughts so go with what you think will work best for you.
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I can see that, living in the windy plains it is very real the wind could move the RV. I am in my first year of ownership and I do not plan to put my jacks down but was thinking maybe they are trying to take the weight off the tires. I know motorheads who store collector cars on jackstands in order to minimize flat spots on the tires.
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You can't get the fruit if you don't go out on the limb...
2011 Sprinter 255RKS
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10-09-2019, 01:52 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Royalwapiti
I can see that, living in the windy plains it is very real the wind could move the RV. I am in my first year of ownership and I do not plan to put my jacks down but was thinking maybe they are trying to take the weight off the tires. I know motorheads who store collector cars on jackstands in order to minimize flat spots on the tires.
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The stabilizers are not stout enough to ever raise enough to take the weight off the tires without damage.
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Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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10-10-2019, 04:15 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WA
Posts: 384
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I don't do it, it's no need for me.
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2018 Dodge Ram 3500 6.7L Diesel Cummins Turbo
2019 Jayco Eagle 321RSTS 5th Wheel
Retired Army MSG
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10-17-2019, 07:33 AM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: oswego
Posts: 10
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With my snow I lower
In upstate, I store outside and lower them. We get over 200 inches a winter. I know others who even use 4x4 wood blocks right to the lower frame.
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10-17-2019, 08:24 AM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Fenton
Posts: 13
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I normally lower the jacks just enough to lightly touch the ground or blocks. Sometimes I return to find a flat tire due to a slow puncture leak. I have tandem axles. Also, the storage lot is not perfectly level.
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10-17-2019, 09:14 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Richmond TX
Posts: 69
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I used to punch the 'autolevel' button on my Lippert Level Up system when I stored the Montana to get the weight off the tires and springs. The owner of the storage lot asked me NOT to do that any more because if he wants to be able to move a camper whenever it is needed. At the time he was trimming trees behind my storage row. Since then they have regraded the lot. Once in a while someone down the row will park funny and it has a cascade effect down the row, and he will have to move a half-dozen trailers to get them all back to where they belong. So now I just use the landing gear and that's all.
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John & Janet from Texas via Connecticut and Vermont
2012 Keystone Montana 3150RL 5th Wheel
2012 Ford F350 Diesel 4x4 Lariat Crewcab SRW
6.7L V-8 diesel, 6-sp automatic, 3.55 axle ratio
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10-17-2019, 09:24 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Parker, Colorado
Posts: 126
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I do not put the extra levelers down, my thought being with a slight slant the rain
and snow will slide off the roof.
__________________
Phil & Alberta Saran
2019 Keystone Cougar 30 RLS 5er
2012 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel 4x4
Colorado
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